A comprehensive set of revised regulations covering the governance of Players' Agents was agreed at a meeting of The FA Board today.

The regulations will significantly strengthen existing rules and are intended to be in operation before the opening of the January transfer window, subject to FA Council approval.

FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick said: "These new regulations show The FA's commitment and determination to governing the game. They will provide a major step forward in the regulation of this area and make it absolutely clear what is acceptable for players, clubs and agents.

"These rules will provide us with a robust framework to bring disciplinary action when there is evidence of wrongdoing."

The key elements of the new regulations are:

Dual representation - dual representation will no longer be allowed. An Agent will only be able to act for one party in a transaction – a transaction being the combination of the player/buying club employment arrangements and the club/club transfer arrangements

Agents acting for players - payments to Agents will be permitted to be made by a Club but only as a deduction from the salary/declared benefit of a Player and only in line with a Player/Agent contract

Overseas Agents - will be required to register with The FA when involved in a transaction in England (thereby providing The FA with jurisdiction)

Lawyers - same as for Overseas Agents, will be required to register with The FA

Exempt persons (e.g. Player’s parent, sibling, spouse) - the ability of exempt persons to act for Players will be narrowed to very limited circumstances and they will also required to register with The FA

Approaches - Agents will be expressly covered by rules on illegal approaches mirroring those that already apply to other Participants

Three year rule - Agents will only be permitted to act for a Club in a transaction if they have not acted for the Player in any capacity in the preceding three years. This will prevent Agents switching to get paid by a Club when they are in reality the Player's Agent

Career clause - An Agent acting for a Club in respect of transaction involving a Player will not be permitted thereafter to act for any other Clubs in respect of a transaction in relation to the same Player. This will prevent Agents from "shadow" representing players (i.e. claiming to act for a Club when in fact the Agent is acting for a Player) through his career and seeking payment from Clubs

Commercial restrictions - where an Agent represents a Player, he will not be able to act in any capacity for a Club in relation to that Player (e.g. the Agent can not be paid by a Club for an image rights deal or similar arrangement) 

Clubs must deal with Player's Agent - Clubs will be required to deal with a Player's Agent and will not be allowed to induce or coerce a breach of a Player’s Agency contract

Contractual terms - The FA will have the discretion to reject a contract registration where the terms are not in line with the requirements of the regulations

Player registrations - Player registrations will only be released by The FA once all the documentation has been correctly lodged, including the lodging of Agency representation contracts

Unlicensed Agents - the subcontracting of any Agency activity to unlicensed Agents will be prohibited. This will prevent unlicensed Agents from being involved "down the chain". Similarly Agents will not be permitted to act "in concert" with unlicensed Agents

Companies - a procuring provision will be included so that Agents cannot hide behind companies. For example, this will apply when it comes to having to provide financial information required by the regulations

Registration rights - blanket prohibition on Agents owning an interest, either directly or indirectly, in the registration rights of a Player

Database - The FA will be making a database of Agency representation accessible to Clubs and Leagues

The regulations will now be presented to a meeting of The FA Council. Discussions will also continue with FIFA and the Law Society with regard to aspects of the regulations relating to the registration of overseas Agents and lawyers.

These further revisions enhance the domestic regulations that were brought in for the first time in January 2006.